Knob & Tube Rewiring in Heritage Home

Full replacement of hazardous knob and tube wiring in a 1910s Toronto heritage home, ensuring electrical safety and insurance compliance with minimal disruption to original finishes.

Challenge

Navigating intricate lath and plaster walls without extensive demolition was the primary technical hurdle in this century-old home. Careful planning was essential to snake new wiring through existing cavities while preserving the heritage finishes. Securing ESA approval for the updated system required meticulous documentation of the historical structure.

Solution

We utilized flexible NMD90 wiring and specialized fish tapes to minimize wall openings, preserving the home's original plasterwork. All new circuits were run to a modern 200 amp panel, meeting current ESA O. Reg 164/99 standards. Low-profile junction boxes were strategically placed for future access and aesthetics.

Result

The home now boasts a completely safe and code-compliant electrical system, reducing fire risk and ensuring insurability. This upgrade added significant value and peace of mind for the homeowners, with the project completed within the 3-week timeline. Energy efficiency improved by an estimated 15% due to reduced line loss.

“The RenoHouse team did an impressive job updating our old electrical system. We were particularly relieved by how little plaster needed patching; they were very careful. The ESA inspection passed without a hitch, which was a major concern for us with an older house.”

— S. Miller, Rosedale